Fluid mixing device



July 29, 1947.

S. LE B. GAMBLE FLUID MIXING DEVICE Filed lJune 3, 1944 Patente-d July 29,l 1947 FLUID Mr xINGDEvICE v Slade le Blount Gamble, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Lindberg Engineering Company, Chicago, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Application June I3, 1944, Serial No. 538,623

(o1. 4s-18o) 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mixing devices and method and more particularly to control of proportional entrainment of one fluid by another.

In prior types of mixing devices for mixing two fluids, such, for example, as combustible gas and air, wherein the kinetic energy of the primaryfluid is utilized to aspirate the secondary fluid, it is usually necessary that the back-pressure on the downstream side of the device be limited to an amount less than approximately 60% of the `pressure of the primary fluid on the` upstream side of the device in order that-the secondary fluid will -be appropriately entrained. Also, such prior types of mixing devices require the establishment of relatively precise complementary relationship between such factors as entering pressure of the primary and secondary fluids, maximum and minimum rate of flow of either or both fluids, downstream pressure of the mixed fluids and velocity ratio (entering versus throat velocity) of the aspirating` fluid as determined by the boundaries of the flow passage of the primary fluid. This compels that for such prior types of mixing devices to serve the requirements of varied service or installation conditions the device be available in a vast multiplicity of incremental sizes in order to aiord the minute incremental 'changes in velocity ratio of the aspirating iiuid required of the service conditions mentioned above. Since some of the governing service conditions are not always predictable, the manufacturer of such prior devices has found it necessary to resort to the wasteful expediency of sacrificing efiiciency in the serviceable utilization of the kinetic and potential energy of the primary fluid in order to assure the appropriate aspiration of the secondary fluid.

Such prior devicesihavegenerally been controlled to vary the ratio of the secondary fluid to the primary iiuid lby throttling the secondary fluid supply. While the ratio can effectively be controlled in this manner, such control cannot provide adjustments for maximum utilization of the energy available in the primary iiuid.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a ratio control method and apparatuswhich will render available a maximum portion of the potential and kinetic energy of the primary uid as useful energy in the mixed fluids.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing device which can adjustably accommodate itself to variable service conditions without sacrice of eiiiciency and with a minimum number of incremental sizes to encompass diffrent rates of maximum flow.

ylli

A conditions.

Still another object of. the present invention 1s to provide a method and apparatus wherein a proportional entrainment of a secondary fluid is `controlled by varying the velocity ratio-of a primary iiuid and of rendering said velocity ratio adjustably commensurate to the installation circumstances with respect to the related components of pressures and volumes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing device in which the ratio of primary land secondary fluids can be regulated by adjustment of the throat area of the mixing device.

A still further *object is to provide control of the downstream potential and kinetic energy with respect to the energy of the primary fluid by adjustably varying the boundaries of the primary fluid iiow passage so that more of the l energy of primary fluid willY be available in the mixture of the two uids for serviceable utilization of the mixed fluids.v y

The vabove and other objects 'and advantages will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accom-panying drawing, in whichl Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a mixing device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure' 1; and

- Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3---3A of Figure 1.

The mixing device illustrated in the drawings comprises an elongated tube or conduit l0 having outwardly aring end portions Il adapted to be connected in a fluid flow line. The central portion of the conduit 'is rectangular in shape as seen in Figure 3, and comprises spaced side plates I2 which are open at their opposite edges to form enlarged openings into the conduit. If desired, v

overlapping the conduit at their opposite free ends as indicated at I5. The strips I3 are of such 3 n a width as to t slidably between the plates I2 substantially to prevent flow of any iluid around their edges and may be pressed together in their central portions to vary the flow area by any desired type of mechanism. As; shown, the strips are controlled by rollers I6 carried by screws I1 for pressing the central portions of the stripsto gether under manual control although -it will be j -conduit through a casing enclosing the central rectangular portion thereof and forming sides I8 cast integrally with or otherwise connected Vto the conduit. Cover plates-I9 are secured over the open ends of the plates I8 and carry the screws I1. Fluid is supplied to the casing through a pipe 2| and is conducted from the casing into the conduit Ill through ports 22 formed in the xed sides of the rectangular portion of the conduit.

In order to direct the secondary Yuid properly into the conduit and to provide limiting stops for the ilexible strips I3, channel members23 are formed on the interior of the conduit communicating with the ports 22 and open at their downstream ends as indicated at 24.v Y

In operation, the device may be installed in a pipe or conduit through which a p'rimary fluid iiows in the direction of the arrows. Flow of the primary iluid causes a partial vacuum in the reduced central portion of the devices which induces a iiow of the'secondary iduid from the casing through the ports 22 and channels 23.

When the mixing device is installed, it is necessary only to t it to the pipe size for the primary iluid and the ilexible strips I3 may then be adjusted to provide the correct throat area for the existing pressure and ow conditions. I'hus one size of mixing device may serve applications requiring several iixed sizes and can be adjusted to better approximate ideal conditions than where fixed devices are used. In the same manner, the throat shape or area in the primary now passage may be varied to regulate the proportional entrainment of the secondary uid thereby to control, the iiuid ratios. This insures maximum pressure conditions downstream of the mixing def vice and maximum operating efficiency.

` While the .invention has been illustrated as embodied in an apparatus having a rectilinear iiow passage, it will be understood that, in its broad concept, various other shapes, materials and methods of adjustment could be employed. It is, therefore, not intended that the embodiment illustrated shall serve as a deinition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

`tion having an opening in one side, a iiexible strip connected to the conduit adjacent one end of the opening and overlying the opening with its other end free, means to press the central portion of the strip into the opening to vary the lflow area of the conduit, and channel shaped members projecting inwardly from the sides of the conduit and open at the end facing downstream to provide for inlet o a second fluid into y the conduit.

2. A mixing device comprising an elongated tube to conduct a flowing uid having a central rectangular portion with two opposite sides open, iiexible strips ,overlying the open sides and of a width to fit slidably between the other sides, means to press the central portions of the strips together so that they willcurve inwardly to vary the flow area, and channel shaped members projecting inwardly from the xed sides of the central rectangular portion and open at the end facing downstream to form inlet openings in the channel.

3. A mixing device comprising an elongated conduit having flaring ends and a rectangular central portion with openings in its opposite sides,

. flexible strips overlying the openings, means to press the strips into the openings, and a casing enclosing the central conduit portion and communicating with a second-fluid, the central portion of the conduit having inlet openings in its sides between the ilexble strips communicating with the casing,

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name Date 2,066,544 Shaw Jan. 5, 1937 1,459,961 Wheeler June 26, 1923 1,360,445 f Rollins Nov, 3o, 1920 2,366,322 Foster Jan. 2, 1945 2,321,483 Haedike June 8, 1943 

